Swimming pool cover



Oct. 13, 1970 J. G. GISONDI SWIMMING POOL COVER Filed Feb. 25, 1969 2 Sheets'PSheet 1 INVENTOR. JOSEPH G. GISONDI Y all ATTORNEY 0a; 13, 1970 J. G. GISQND. 3,533,110

SWIMMING POOL COVER Filed Feb. 25, 1969 2 SheetsSheet 2 2 8 o o A Q 1 J I9 IN VENTOR. I JOSEPH G.GISONDI ATTORNEY United States Patent O US. Cl. 4172.12 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cover for an underground pool filled with water comprises an inflatable portion (bag) of sheet material having about the shape of the pool and extending about to the edges of the pool. A strip of sheet material is connected at one edge to the bag (desirably at the seam). To the other edge of the strip is attached (desirably at the seam) a tubular anchoring portion of sheet material which is to be filled with water. The width of. the strip is such that when the bag is filled with air andlthe tubular portion is filled with water, there is substantially no strain on the tubular portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When underground swimming pools are not in use, such as during the cold season, they present a safety hazard to children and others who may be in the vicinity thereof. Also, considerable debris, such as leaves and refuse tend to be blown into the pool, serving as pollutants.

There are a number of pool covers on the market which are intended to avoid these conditions. For example, the Spartan-Aqualon Mini-Dome or Ae-rodome is a tent-like enclosure which may be used year around. Unfortunately, the unit is expensive, and its tent-like construction serves to draw children to enter into it, plus the fact that the air used to support this enclosure is not self contained to the extent that a blower must be present with a pressure switch so that when the air pressure in the unit diminishes, the blower is switched on to maintain the necessary pressure. Loss of air pressure in this unit is mainly attributed to air seepage beneath the water bag perimeter, and through the entrance way when opened to enter. This particular cover does not hold up well in strong winds, and, when an accumulation of snow is deposited on it, it has a tendency to distort and ultimately deflate.

Another pool cover is made of vinyl mesh material. It is merely laid across the pool and thus does not prevent persons from walking over it and possibly breaking through. A third type is the Caproco Aqua-Tube which is Stretched over the pool as in the preceding case, but it is provided with water-filled tubes at the sides to prevent the wind from getting under the edges. However, the danger to persons walking on it is still present. The accumulation of debris and precipitation which, in the cold winter season, is considerable and can amount to as much as 2 /2 ft. depth at center of cover, eliminates the value of safety. Small children and pets could easily stumble onto and drown in the accumulated water, or because the material floating on the surface of the pool water (under the cover) is under strain due to the added weight of precipitation, the weight of even a small child could cause the covering to rip or tear, thus plunging the child into the pool water proper and beneath the cover.

Pat. No. 2,883,676 shows a flat sheet cover extendable over a pool, and having a water-filled tubular edge portion to serve as a seal and weight. In Pat. No. 2,914,776, an inflatable cover is used on the pool. A strip attached to the edge of this cover is pulled into special clamps which are imbedded into the tops of the pool sides. These clamps are not only expensive to install, but they provide tripping hazards for those walking on the pool sides. Also,

the stretched sheet which they are designed to hold sufiers fatigue and becomes brittle and cracks. The same is true of the cover described in Pat. No. 3,063,062. In Pat. No. 3,366,977, a similar cover is described, with the exception that a small inflatable portion is inserted under the center of the cover to provide an arch to enable leaves and other debris to slide off.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aforesaid disadvantages of prior art pool covers are avoided by the present invention which employs an inflatable (bag) central portion of sheet material which essentially covers the pool. Attached to the edges of the bag portion (desirably at the seam), at its one edge, is a strip of sheet material. Attached to the other edge of the strip is a tubular anchor portion designed to be filled with water. The width of the strip is such that it does not impose any substantial stress or strain on the anchor portion when it is filled with water and when the bag is inflated.

Such a construction permits the bag portion to move independently of the anchoring portion and, since no strain is imposed on the latter, the cover will have a longer life, because the strip and its connections are free of fatigue stresses. The unit also is safer than other prior art covers, in that children cannot climb on the inflated portion and they would find it very diflicult to lift the waterfilled anchoring portion. Debris and precipitation are not only kept out of the pool, but they also cannot accumulate on the cover, thus eliminating the dangers heretofore mentioned.

A secondary consideration (Pat. No. 2,883,676), is its removal in the spring, which is hampered considerably by accumulated water, leaves and debris, etc., which must be removed by a pump or siphon and which entails hours of laborious effort. None of these conditions are present in the case of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS the plane of line 4-4 in FIG 3; and

FIG. 5 depicts a top view of an air valve, and cover therefor, used in the inflatable cover portion of the present invention.

The same numerals refer to similar parts in the various figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, and first to FIGS, 1, 2 and 5, numeral 10 represents an oval-shaped pool having concrete sides 11, set in ground 12, with the water level being at position 13.

The cover of the present invention includes an airinflatable central portion, indicated generally as 14, and made of sheet plastic, such as rubber, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, polyethylene, or the like. This central portion is desirably shaped to the shape of the pool, and desirably covers the pool surface 13 to the tops 15 of the pool sides, or even extending thereover. It comprises an upper section 16 preferably made of sheet material of, say 12 gauge thickness. The bottom section 17 is similarly shaped and of similar material, and it is joined by fusion, for example, at seam 18, to form an air-tight bag.

At various intervals, and at conveniently-accessible locations, the sides of bag 14 are provided with air valves 19. These Vales-may be of any conventional type, as for example the kind shown in FIG. 5, wherein the plastic circular valve is large enough to admit the outlet hose of a domestic vacuum cleaner. Such a valve has a body 20 which is sealed into a hole formed in bag portion 16. This body is preferably provided with a one-way flap valve 21 designed to prevent escape of air out of valve opening 22. To the side of body 20 is attached plastic hinge 23, and a snap cover 24 is attached to the other end of hinge 23. The latter has a projecting circular closure 25 which is designed to snap into opening 22. A finger tab 26 is provided on the cover to facilitate pulling it out of opening 22.

Connected at its one edge to the seam 18 of bag 14 is a strip 27 of sheet plastic, desirably of heavier gauge than that of bag 14, and say of 20 gauge thickness. The other edge of strip 27 is connected to a tubular anchor portion 28 which is also made of plastic of say, 20 gauge thickness. It is desirably of thicker sheet than bag 14 because it takes more abuse. This tubular portion is also provided, at convenient and accessible places, with closeable openings or valves 29 for connection thereto of a water hose, through which water 30 may be introduced. The tubular portion 28 is suitably filled with water (with suitable venting out of air) and this portion serves as the anchor element for the bag 14. This anchor portion may rest on the tops 15 of the pool sides, or, preferably on the ground level 12.

The width of connector strip 27 is wide enough so that, when tubular portion 28 is filled with water, and bag 14 is filled with air, the said tubular portion rests easily on its base and it does not impose strain on the connector strip. This width is usually about 18 to 24 inches in width. The tubular portion 28, when filled with water, desirably has a width of about 12 inches and a height of about inches.

It is thus seen that the cover of the present invention permits the inflated bag portion 14 to adjust itself and to move independently of the anchor tube portion 28. Furthermore, the weight of the tube portion 28 does not impose any stress or strain upon the seam 18 of bag 14, and thus minimizes greatly the tearing at that location. Also, due to absence of strain, there is less fatigue due to flexure of the connection between tubular portion 28 and bag 14.

Although tubular portion 28 is shown in FIGS. 1-2 as a continuous tube entirely surrounding bag 14, it is to be understood that tube 28 may consist of separate spaced portions, as can be understood from FIG. 3. The pool is rectangular in this case, and the sides 11' have a coping projecting above ground level. Bag 14' also is rectangular, and it is provided with connecting strips 27' on all four sides. These strips are long enough so as to enable tubular portions 28' to lie on the ground level 12 beyond coping 15'. It will be noted that strips 27' permit this. Otherwise, if tubular portions 28 were connected directly to seam 18' of the bag, they would lie partially on the coping, thus placing an excessive strain upon seam 18'.

I claim:

1. A cover for an underground pool having sides and containing water, comprising:

an inflatable center portion of sheet material having substantially the shape of the pool and extending substantially at least to the edges thereof,

a connecting strip of sheet material having one edge connected to the edge of said inflatable portion,

a tubular anchoring portion of sheet material designed to be filled with water and to rest at the edge of the pool and connected to the other edge of said strip, and

said strip having a width such that said tubular portion is able to rest normally and without substantial tension thereon when filled with water, and when said inflatable portion is filled with air.

2. A cover, according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the sheet material, for said connecting strip and said tubular portion, is greater than that of the inflatable portion.

3. A cover, according to claim 1, in which said inflatable portion comprises an upper section and a lower section connected by a seam,

and said connecting strip is connected to said seam.

4. A cover, according to claim 3, in which said tubular portion has sections connected by a seam, and said connecting strip is connected to said latter seam.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,782,794 2/1957 White -1 2,867,346 1/ 1959 Champagnat 220 -18 2,867,347 1/ 1959 Champagnat 220 -18 2,883,676 4/1959 Kwake 4--172.12 2,888,717 6/1959 Domitrovic 14-172.12 XR 3,072,920 1/1963 Yellott 4--172.12 3,077,610 2/1963 Gazdik 4-172.12 3,313,443 4/1967 Dial et al. 4172.12 XR 3,330,118 7/1967 Biais 4172.12 XR 3,355,745 12/1967 Jannuzzi 4172.12 3,366,977 2/1968 Koehler 4172.12

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 22018 

